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What is an APU unit on a truck?An APU, or Auxiliary Power Unit, is a generator that can produce or store power for a semi-truck while the main engine is off. APUs are often used to power accessory equipment, like heating and cooling systems, without idling the truck, which can save fuel and reduce air pollution. APUs can also be used to power electronics or a TV during breaks.
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How does an electric APU for a semi-truck work?An electric Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) for semi trucks is a device designed to provide power for heating, cooling, and other electrical needs without requiring the main engine to run. This helps reduce fuel consumption and emissions while ensuring driver comfort during rest periods. Here’s a breakdown of how an electric APU works: Components of an Electric APU Battery Pack: Stores electrical energy and supplies power to the APU’s components. Inverter: Converts direct current (DC) from the battery pack into alternating current (AC) used by most appliances. HVAC System: Manages heating, ventilation, and air conditioning to regulate the temperature inside the cab. Control Unit: Oversees the APU’s operation, ensuring efficient energy use and monitoring system status. Alternator: Electric APU utilizes the truck alternator that charges the battery pack while the truck is running. How It Works Energy Storage: The battery pack of the electric APU is charged by the truck’s alternator when the engine is running or by plugging into an external power source (shore power) when available. Power Supply: When the truck is parked and the main engine is off, the APU draws energy from the battery pack to power the HVAC system and other electrical devices in the cab, such as lights, refrigerators, microwaves, and entertainment systems. Temperature Regulation: The HVAC system provides heating or cooling as needed, maintaining a comfortable temperature inside the cab without idling the main engine. Battery Management: The control unit monitors the battery’s charge level and overall health, ensuring efficient energy use and preventing the battery from discharging completely. Truck Alternator: If included, the alternator recharges the APU’s battery pack while the truck is on the move, ensuring the batteries are ready for the next rest period. Benefits Fuel Efficiency: By eliminating the need to idle the main engine for power, electric APUs save fuel and reduce operating costs. Environmental Impact: Reduced idling leads to lower emissions, making electric APUs an environmentally friendly option. Driver Comfort: Provides reliable heating, cooling, and power for electronic devices, enhancing the driver’s rest and comfort. Regulatory Compliance: Helps comply with anti-idling regulations, which are increasingly strict in many regions. Use Case When a truck driver stops for a rest period, instead of idling the main engine to power the cab’s HVAC system and electrical devices, they switch on the electric APU. The APU draws power from its battery pack to maintain a comfortable cabin environment and supply electricity for various needs. This operation continues until the battery pack is depleted, at which point it can be recharged by the truck’s alternator when driving or by plugging into shore power. By incorporating these functionalities, electric APUs offer a cost-effective and environmentally friendly solution for maintaining driver comfort and operational efficiency in the trucking industry.
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What are the benefits of using a truck APU?Using an Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) for semi trucks offers numerous benefits, primarily centered around cost savings, environmental impact, and driver comfort. Here are some of the key advantages: 1. Fuel Savings Reduced Idling: APUs significantly cut down the need for engine idling to power accessories like air conditioning, heating, and electrical devices. This results in substantial fuel savings, as idling a truck engine can consume about 0.8 gallons of diesel per hour. Efficiency: Electric APUs are more fuel-efficient compared to running the main engine, potentially saving truck operators thousands of dollars annually in fuel costs. 2. Environmental Benefits Lower Emissions: By reducing engine idling, APUs help lower greenhouse gas emissions and other pollutants, contributing to a cleaner environment. Compliance with Regulations: Many regions have strict anti-idling laws. Using an APU can help trucking companies comply with these regulations and avoid fines. 3. Increased Comfort Climate Control: APUs provide heating and cooling for the cab, ensuring driver comfort during rest periods without needing to idle the main engine. This can lead to better rest and improved driver well-being. Power Supply: APUs can provide continuous power for electronic devices, lights, and other accessories, enhancing the living conditions in the truck cab. 4. Engine Preservation Reduced Wear and Tear: Reducing engine idling decreases engine wear and tear, potentially extending the lifespan of the main engine and reducing maintenance costs. Battery Management: Many APUs include systems that manage battery power effectively, preventing the main truck batteries from draining and ensuring reliable engine starts. 5. Cost Savings Maintenance Costs: Lower engine idling reduces the frequency of oil changes and other routine maintenance associated with engine operation, leading to cost savings over time. Operational Efficiency: APUs can help avoid costly downtime by maintaining a comfortable cabin environment and reliable power supply, which is essential for long-haul operations. 6. Operational Flexibility Shore Power Integration: Many APUs can connect to shore power when available, allowing trucks to use electricity from external sources, which can be cheaper and more efficient than running the APU or the main engine. Backup Power: APUs can serve as a backup power source in case of main engine failure, ensuring critical systems remain operational. By leveraging these benefits, APUs not only enhance operational efficiency and cost-effectiveness but also promote a more sustainable and comfortable working environment for truck drivers.
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What is the main difference between T-Model 12V and T-Model 24V?Polar Fox APU T-Model 12V and T-Model 24V A/C system are the same, except one is 12V and the other is 24V. The 24V is a more efficient system compared to 12V, which provides 30% more cooling capacity than 12V. T-Model 12V uses our starting lithium batteries, while 24V has the dedicated 24V lithum deep cycle battery pack.
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Do I need to upgrade my stock truck alternator before installing the Polar Fox eAPU systems?No, Polar Fox eAPU systems are utilizing lithium batteries. We do not require customers to upgrade their stock alternator.
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I am far away from your shop, can I install Polar Fox eAPU system by myself?V-Model is relatively easy to install with the help from Polar Fox installation instruction. Although, it is always advised to install any of Polar Fox eAPU models by trained professional. Please noted, due to the complexity of the T-Model, we do not advise self-installation. For our V-model DIY kit, please visit DPFDiscounter.com to shop our kits. Customers who purchase Polar Fox eAPU DIY kit, will receive the link for an installation instruction video to assist the installation.
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Where is your shop located?Our shop is located at 1120 High Ave SW Canton, Ohio 44707
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Do you have shops in other states other than Ohio?At the present time, no. But we are developing a dealer network for Polar Fox eAPU systems. Subscribe to our website to be the first to know when we sign up our first dealership.
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Why should I choose Polar Fox APU over other electric APU providers?Polar Fox APU offers the most advanced electric APU on the market. No more struggles with the heavy AGM batteries, which is an old and frankly a bad technology that brought the bad reputation for the whole electric APU industry. Polar Fox APU only utilize lithium batteries. While Tesla and other EV makers can use lithium batteries the power the cars and trucks for 300 miles plus, don't you know the lithium batteries can't power the A/C system for semi trucks for 8 hours? It has been proved lithium batteries are the best power source for trucks. Polar Fox APU has the best lithium batteries in the market. Lithium battery market is flooded by cheap lithium batteries, which are buit with the cheap lithium cells. There are multiple lquality evels of the cells. In most cases, you get what you pay for. No company is selling lithium batteries for charity. They sell for profit. Polar Fox APU is proudly using the best quality lithium cells with the best build quality, alongside with the advanced BMS system that safeguard the system, that protect your truck. Polar Fox APU has the most affordable pricing. For only $5,500, you will get our V-Model starter system, which equipped with our top of the line lithium starting batteries, and US designed and supported A/C unit. Plus, for just 1 day installation. You will be very pleased with the pricing and quality. Polar Fox APU not only provides the cooling system, we offer heating, inverter, shore power, and more... You are not only getting an electric APU, but also a technology company that is continuously developping more functions and features to advance your APU experience.
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What is the main difference between V-Model and T-Model?Polar Fox APU V-Model utilizes the 2-in-1 A/C unit, while T-Model utilizes the traditional split A/C system. While both A/C systems utilize the under the bunk space. V-Model A/C system takes a bigger under-the-bunk space than T-Model. If your truck has smaller under-the-bunk space, your best option is T-Model.
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Can I run the A/C from Polar Fox APU while driving?Yes, you can run your A/C system while driving to keep your bunk space cool, sometimes, Polar Fox APU can keep your whole truck cool while driving, which means you don't need to run your truck A/C. In this case, you are saving fuel. The fleet that utilize Polar Fox APU has the highest fuel efficiency compared to the trucks that have the diesel APU in the same fleet. Diesel APU can't run while truck is driving.
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How many hours does it take to charge the 400Ah system?Our standard shore power is 100A, the best case with our shore power opion to charge the battery full is 4 hours.
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Why should I consider the shore power option?For trucks that run the concert tour, shore power is a great option. This type of the loads require trucks to sit at one location for an extended time frame, and most of the locations have shore power supply for the truck. With the option of the shore power installed on the truck. The truck batteries can be charged and run the APU system without idling the truck. In other cases, such as the truck is equipped with an generator, or trucks like to utilize the shore power from the truck stops. Polar Fox APU shore power option is a great choice.
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What are the main benefits of your lithium batteries?Polar Fox APU has three models, and they are V-Model, T-Model 12V and T-Model 24V. Our V-Model and T-Model 12V models are utilizing our starting lithium batteries, while T-Model 24V model is utilizing our deep cycle lithium batteries. Our starting lithium batteries are the 2-in-1 lithium batteries, which can be used as starting and deep cycle energy storage. Our starting lithium batteries are already tested in the trucking industry for over 5 years, it is the most reliable and advanced lithium batteries in the market. The operating temperatures are -40F to 149F. You will be happy to have these smart lithium starting batteries on your truck!
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